2 Chronicles 12:3

Listen to 2 Chronicles 12:3
3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt-Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians.[a]

2 Chronicles 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:3

With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen;
and the people were without number
The foot soldiers; their number, according to Josephus F8 was 400,000:

that came with him out of Egypt;
the above numerous army came from thence with him, which was famous for horses and chariots of war, see ( Exodus 14:7 Exodus 14:28 ) , what follow seem to have joined him after he came out of Egypt, or whom he subdued in his way; the Lubim or Lybians, inhabitants of Libya, a country near Egypt the same with the Lehabim; of whom see ( Genesis 10:13 ) ,

the Sukkiims;
who were either the Scenite Arabs, who dwelt in tents, as this word signifies; or the Troglodytes, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, who dwelt in dens and caves, in which sense the word "Succah" is sometimes used, ( Job 38:40 ) ( Psalms 10:9 ) and in their country was a town called Suchae, mentioned by Pliny F9; they inhabited near the Red sea; and if Shishak is the same with Sesostris, as is thought, these people were subdued by him, as Herodotus F11 and Strabo F12 testify:

and the Ethiopians;
some think these were the Cushite Arabs, and that Sesostris came into Arabia is testified by the above writers; though rather the proper Ethiopians are meant, since they are joined with the Lubim or Africans; and since, as Herodotus F13 says, he ruled over Ethiopia; and Diodorus Siculus F14 says he fought with them, and obliged them to pay him tribute.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 10. sect. 2.
F9 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29.
F11 Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 102.
F12 Geograph. l. 16. p. 529.
F13 Ut supra, (Euterpe, sive, l. 2.) c. 110.
F14 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 50.
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2 Chronicles 12:3 In-Context

1 When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he abandoned the law of the Lord-he and all Israel with him.
2 Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem
3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt-Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians.
4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
5 Then Shemaiah the prophet went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: "This is what the Lord says: 'You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.' "

Footnotes 1

  • [a] Lit Cushites
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.